OSU professor elected to head international transportation organization

03/31/2010

CORVALLIS, Ore. – B. Starr McMullen, professor of economics and of agricultural and resource economics at Oregon State University, has been elected president of the Transportation Research Forum, an international organization of academics, practitioners and government officials interested in economic, management, and public policy issues related to transportation.

McMullen, a recognized scholar in the field of transportation economics, has also served as president of the Transportation and Public Utilities Group, the oldest affiliate group of the American Economic Association. In September 2009, McMullen received the first Researcher of the Year Award given by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, for her research examining the socioeconomic impacts of changing from a gasoline tax to a vehicle mile tax for automobiles.

McMullen’s current research involves assessing the impacts of highway user fees and examining the impacts of airline code share agreements. She is also interested in business cycles and macroeconomic policy especially as it impacts Oregon and the Northwest.

McMullen’s term will run through March 2011 when the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Forum will be held in Long Beach, Calif.